Game.



P. E. JOHNSON.

GAME.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 10, 1914.

Patenteri Nov. 10,1914

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PETER, E. JOHNMEN, OF FRANCIWJU, CALIFORNIA.

GAME.

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Specification of Letters'lta'tent.

Patented use. lo, mire application filed February 10, 1914. serial an. ornate.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that l, Parse E. Johnson, a citizen of the United States, residing at San Francisco, in the county of San Francisco and State of California, have invented a new and useful Game, of which the following is a specification in such full and clear terms as will enable those skilled in the .art

to construct and use the same.

This invention relates to a parlor game and its object is to imitate upon a miniature scale a game known as basket ball.

An object of the.invention is to provide an apparatus for playing the game which will combine skill 'and chance to such anextent as to make the game moreinteresting than a game in which chance alone determines the plays to be made.

Another object of the invention is to provide means whereby two players may carry on the game, the board being so arranged as to give each player about equal chance to make the next play.

An embodiment of the invention is shown in the drawing in which the same reference numeral is applied to the some portion throughout, but it am aware that there are many modifications thereof.

Figure l is a plan view of the complete game board, Fig. 2 is a sideelevation thereof, Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line 33 Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrow. Fig. 4: is a vertical sectional view oi one of the pockets, and Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view oi one of the striking hammers on, the line 5-5 Fig. l.

The numeral 1 indicates the sides and 2 the ends of a shallow tray having an in elined bottom 3.. The inclined bottom 3 is covered with a suitable mat 4 having the desired depressions, holes and marks thereon. The bottom is provided with holes at 5, 6 and *3 through which holes strih'ing hammers 8, 9 and it) may pass. Each hammer passes through a ring ll secured. on the underside oi. the bottom and it is supported by means of a rod 12, which rod is pivoted in a bracket 13. The other end of the rod is secured to the lower end of the handle 14, said handle moving in a bar extending along the lower edge of the table at le -land having a spring 16 to cause it to remain up. The in clined bottom has a, series of ten depressions to correspond with the number of players commonly found in a basket ball game. These depressions are indicated at 17 to 26 inclusive, in one of which depressions a ball 17 is resting, and each of the depressions is distinctly marked to correspond with the opposite players. Along the lower side of the table the bar 15 extends and it is provided at its ends with inclined portions 30 and 31 and with a series of pockets 32 to inclusive. Some of these pockets are marked for one set of players, others are marked for the other set of players and some are marked for both sets of players, the object being to give one set of players an opportunity to make a goal at one time and the other set of players an opportunity to make a goal at another time.

The boardis provided with a plurality of pins 46, which pins cause the ball used to travel uncertainly across the table,

in actual practice the player is marked out with a foul line as indicated at at each end and this practice is carried out here for the purpose oi likening this game to the actual game oi basket ball. Adjoining each foul line are the goal posts 51 and 52, i

said goal posts being provided with a head board 53 and with the basket 5t through which the ball passes when a goal is made,

In order to prevent the ball from falling off the table, posts 55, 56, 57 and 58 are used to support netting fences 59, 60 and 61.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows: The ball is placed over the hammer 9, the center handle M- is struck a sharp blow which throws the ball into the air. The ball then rolls over the table and into one of the depressions l? to 26, in which event the par-- ticular color claims an opportunity to en deavor to make a goal, or it rolls down into one of the pockets 32 to t5, whereupon one or both of the players may have an opportunity to make a goal, or other suitable rules may be adopted with respect to the plays to be made.

it will be observed that the pins and the place of striking the ball after it is thrown into the air determine its position largely by chance, but when the ball is thrown from either of the end hammers it becomes largely a matter of skill whether or not a goal is made.

Having thus described my invention what it claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is as follows, modifications within the scope of the claims being expressly reserved:

1. A game apparatus comprising an inlllll clined board having a series of depressions therein, goal posts at opposite ends of the board, and means along t e central longitudinal dividing line of the board for throwing a ball up.

2. A game apparatus comprisin an inclined board having a plurality o depressions therein, goal posts at opposite ends of the board, a series of pockets formed along the lower edge of the board, and means along the central dividing line of the board for throwing a ball up.

'3. A game apparatus comprising an inclined board having a plurality of depressions therein, goal posts at opposite ends of the board, a series of pockets formed along the lower edge of the board, means along the central dividing line of the board for throwing aball up, and a fence surrounding the board on its ends and along its upper edge.

4. In a game apparatus, an inclined board having a plurality of depressions therein, a

central line of the board,

series of pockets formed along the lower edge of the board, goal posts at opposite ends "of the board, a central striking hammer, and a striking hammer near each goal post for throwing a ball up.

5. In a game apparatus, an inclined board having a plurality of depressions therein, goal posts at opposite ends of the board, three striking hammers along the a lever extending from each hammer to the lower edge of the board, and a button connected with said lever and extending above the board for striking the hammers to throw a ball up.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 28" day of December A. D. 1913, in the presence of the two subscribed witnesses.

PETER E. JOHNSON.

\Vitnesses HENRY B. LISTER, C. P. GRIFFIN. 

